They’ve got the golden ticket! Tony winner John Rubinstein, Emily Padgett and more will complete the cast of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Headlined by the previously announced two-time Tony winner Christian Borle, the musical is set to begin performances on March 28, 2017 and officially open on April 23 at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
Along with Borle as Willy Wonka, Rubinstein (Children of a Lesser God) as Grandpa Joe and Emily Padgett (Side Show) as Mrs. Bucket, the cast of 35 will include Kathy Fitzgerald (9 to 5) as Mrs. Gloop, F. Michael Haynie (Wicked) as Augustus Gloop, Ben Crawford (Shrek) as Mr. Salt, Emma Pfaeffle (Finding Neverland) as Veruca Salt, Alan H. Green (School of Rock) as Mr. Beauregard, Trista Dollison (A Bronx Tale) as Violet Beauregard, Jackie Hoffman (On The Town) as Mrs. Teavee, Michael Wartella (Tuck Everlasting) as Mike Teavee and introducing Jake Ryan Flynn, Ryan Foust and Ryan Sell making their Broadway debuts as Charlie Bucket. So yes, the kids, apart from Charlie, will be played by adults.
Directed by Jack O’Brien, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will feature music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, a book by David Greig and choreography by Joshua Bergasse. The production includes additional songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from the 1971 film.
Willy Wonka, world famous inventor of the Everlasting Gobstopper, has just made an astonishing announcement. His marvelous—and mysterious—factory is opening its gates...to a lucky few. That includes young Charlie Bucket, whose life definitely needs sweetening. He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerizing, life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination. Get ready for chocolate waterfalls, exquisitely nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka's army of curious Oompa-Loompas.
Rounding out the company will be Yesenia Ayala (Broadway Debut), Darius Barnes (Cinderella), Colin Bradbury (Come Fly Away), Jared Bradshaw (Jersey Boys), Ryan Breslin (Newsies), Kristy Cates (Finding Neverland), Madeleine Doherty (The Producers), Paloma Garcia- Lee (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812), Stephanie Gibson (Cinderella), Talya Groves (Motown), Cory Lingner (On The Town), Elliott Mattox (Broadway Debut), Monette McKay (Memphis), Kyle Taylor Parker (Kinky Boots), Paul Slade Smith (Finding Neverland), Stephen Carrasco (Fiddler on the Roof), Kristin Piro (An American In Paris), Amy Quanbeck (Broadway Debut), Michael Williams (On The Town) and Mikey Winslow (On The Town).
The production will feature scenic and costume design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by Andrew Keister, puppet design by Basil Twist, projection design by Jeff Sugg, orchestrations by Doug Besterman and music direction and supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck.
Dahl's book was first adapted to the big screen in 1971 under the title Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder. In 2005, Tim Burton directed a remake using the novel's original title, with Johnny Depp playing Wonka.
The West End staging officially opened at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane on July 25, 2013, starring Tony and Olivier winner Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka and helmed by Sam Mendes. It will play its final performance on January 7, 2017.